said Abricotina, interrupting her, "have you not troubles
enough already? Why should you anticipate afflictions which may never
come to pass?"

It is easy to imagine what pleasure Leander took in this conversation.

In the meantime the little Furibon, still enamored of the princess
whom he had never seen, expected with impatience the return of the four
servants whom he had sent to the Island of Calm Delights. One of them at
last came back, and after he had given the prince a particular account
of what had passed, told him that the island was defended by Amazons,
and that unless he sent a very powerful army, it would be impossible to
get into it. The king his father was dead, and Furibon was now lord
of all: disdaining, therefore, any repulse, he raised an army of four
hundred thousand men, and put himself at the head of them, appearing
like another Tom Thumb upon a war-horse. Now, when the Amazons perceived
his mighty host, they gave the princess notice of its who immediately
dispatched away her trusty Abricotina to the kingdom of the fairies,
to beg her mother's instructions as to what she should do to drive the
little Furibon from her territories. But Abricotina found the fairy in
an angry humor.

"Nothing that my daughter does," said she, "escapes my knowledge.
The Prince Leander is now in her palace; he loves her, and she has a
tenderness for him. All my cares and precepts have not been able to
guard her from the tyranny of love, and she is now under its fatal
dominion. But it is the decree of destiny, and I must submit; therefore,
Abricotina, begone! nor let me hear a word more of a daughter whose
behavior has so much displeased me."

Abricotina returned with these ill tidings, whereat the princess was
almost distracted; and this was soon perceived by Leander, who was near
her, though she did not see him. He beheld her grief with the greatest
pain. However, he durst not then open his lips; but recollecting that
Furibon was exceedingly covetous, he thought that, by giving him a sum
of money, he might perhaps prevail with him to retire. Thereupon, he
dressed himself like an Amazon, and wished himself in the forest, to
catch his horse. He had no sooner called him than Gris-de-line came
leaping, prancing, and neighing for joy, for he was grown quite weary
of being so long absent from his dear master; but when he beheld him
dressed as a woman he hardly knew him. However, at the sound of his
voice, he suffered the p